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S. A. FOSTER. sEAL.

110.531,174. v V Patented Dee. 18,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN A. FOSTER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM B. MOOLAREN, OF FRANKFORT, INDIANA. I

SEAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letter-s :Patent No. 531,174, dated December 18, 1894.

Application filed September 23,1893. Serial No. 486,316. (No model.)

pertains to make and use the same, referencev being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates Vto a seal of that character intended for usein securing car doors, trunks, chests, and packages from being opened without detection.

The main object of the invention is to proa duce a seal of inexpensive construction having a positive lock.

With this object in view, the invention consists in the parts as shown in the drawings, described in the specification, and brought out in the claim.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation ofa portion of car, showing the car door closed and sealed. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the seal opened. Fig. 3 is a like View, showing the ends of the band engaged, and the seal in position to be moved over the ends to engage therewith. Fig. 4 'is an edge view of a portion of the band, 'showing the ends engaged, and the seal in position to lock the same, the front side of the seal being removed. Fig. 5 is a like view showing the bandfractured to remove the same from the package.

1 designates a band or strip preferably made of metal, having n'otches 2 cut upon each inner side near the end, the notches extending toa depth equal to one half the width of the band, whereby when the notches are in co-incidence, the metal of one end will entirely fill the notch of the other, and the two ends engage, and at the same time maintain parallelism of the sides of the band. Notches 2 are of a width to receive the solid portion of the band only When the ends 3 curve inwardly and divergent from that portion of band immediately in rear of the notch. For this purpose the width of the notch is approximately the -thickness of the band.

4 designates the seal comprising a rectangular centrally recessed slide formed with contracted end openings from the central recess 5, of an area to allow the two ends of the bands to pass therein when laying closely one upon the other. The opening` 6 of each end is contracted by means of depending end portions or walls 7 preferably formed integral with the seal, and against which the ends 3 of the band abut when confined within the seal caused by the inward spring of the ends of the bands when finterlocked, Whereby they contact with the walls 7 as shown in Fig. 4, thereby effectually preventing removal from the seal for the purpose of relnoving the band from the fastening in which it may be placed without mutilating the seal and consequent detection.

The band affords convenient means for 'stamping the name of the road upon which the seal is used, and also the name or number of the station, thereby-dispensing with the usual mode of sealing with a die.

Seal 4 is preferably made of lead or other soft metal of a like inexpensive character, although it may be effectually made of iron or other hard metal. V

Band 1 is preferably perforated in rear of the notch at each end of the band to allow of breaking the same for the purpose of removal from the lock or package, as shown at 8, Fig. 5.

What I claim is- In a seal, a bandfhaving notches upon each inner side, whereby the ends may be interlocked the curved end portions extending beyond the interlock, and an enveloping seal having walls against which the ends of the curved portions abut.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

` STEPHEN A. FOSTER. Witnesses:

WILLIAM WEBstrER, o CARROLL J. WEBsTER. 

